We confess we had no idea that the exercise of the pardoning power had been such, either in character or extent, as to warrant a statement like the following from the same source: “If any one will look at the records of conviction throughout the State for the last fifteen years, and then at the list of pardons, and the history and convictions of the convicts, it will be found, that rarely has a criminal served out the period of his sentence, if he were a person of _wealth_ or previous influence, or who had wealthy connections, or friends and relations of great political influence. While no one can doubt that every Executive has been honest and sincere in the exercise of this power, yet the unseen effect of money and political relations enables the convict to surround the governor with influences which he does not resist.” Can the yielding to such influences be regarded as consistent with “honesty and sincerity” in the exercise of the Executive prerogative? “The principles on which pardons are often obtained, are, in my opinion, incorrect. The Executive generally hears but one side of the case--the one presented by the criminal--while the Court and Jury hear both sides. The case of the prisoner is always strongly stated in his favor, and that backed by the influence of friends or _hired agents_, and the incautious signing by citizens of a petition for pardon, usually produces the result of a liberation from that sentence. “Nothing tends more to the suppression of crime than the certainty of punishment, no matter how short. Let people once be convinced that criminals will be punished as the law provides, and we should find the number of crimes rapidly diminishing. We think much of the principle here asserted, but it is perhaps made to carry too much weight for its bottom. ARTICLE II.--The President, and in his absence one of the Vice-Presidents, shall preside in all meetings, and shall subscribe all public acts of the Society. The President, or in his absence either of the Vice-Presidents, shall moreover have the power of calling a special meeting of the Society whenever he shall judge proper. A special meeting shall likewise be called at any time when six members of the Society shall concur in requesting it. ARTICLE III.--The Secretaries shall keep fair records of the proceedings of the Society, and shall correspond with such persons and societies as may be judged necessary to promote the views and objects of the institution. ARTICLE IV.--The Treasurer shall keep all moneys and securities belonging to the Society, and shall pay all orders of the Society or Acting Committee, signed by the President or one of the Vice-Presidents, which orders shall be his vouchers for his expenditures. He shall, before he enters upon his office, give a bond of not less than two hundred pounds for the faithful discharge of the duties of it.